Tape match container



0a. 8, 1940. H, KL N 2,217,554

I TAPE MATCH CONTAINER Filed Feb. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W/znewes Inventor Oct. 8, 1%49. H, KLASSEN 2,217,554

TAPE MATCH CONTAINER Filed Feb. 20, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 kf g -J (f n; J I i 118 WWW. 9 J" 6 Inventor Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATEN QFFICE Harry George Klassen, Chicago, 111.

Application February 20, 1937, Serial N 0. 126,861

12 Claims.

This invention relates to match containers in which matches in the form of a tape are automatically ignited and replaced one at a time with their heads in advance, by a sliding mem- 6 her, the movement of which carries the match heads over a frictional surface, thereby igniting them and they are then brought into position for use. p

It is an object to provide a match container which operates as a lighter. It is a further object to provide more efiective space for advertising or other printed matter than has been presented by the prior art and to eliminate the many hazards of exposed match heads. Each time this lighter is used the advertisement contained thereon is brought before the users eye and his attention attracted thereto, thus insuring a maximum of advertising effect. Matches of this type need not be thick enough to withstand striking and therefore will burn more completely, leaving little or no ash to retain a glow, thus providing a further safety consideration. This featurealso results in there being no match stem to be disposed of as the remaining fine ash crumbles into 25 dust thus eliminating the inconvenience'and hazards of tossed away matches.

The simplicity in design and freedom from points of excessive wear permits the use of fireproofed paper or other suitable material as a structural material and as a result said design is easily made with automatic high speed production tools.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the completed lighter in a closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the lighter in an open position with the ignited match head raised.

Fig. 3 is a perspective interior side elevation of the lighter after the slide has been returned and shows the ignited match projecting from the end of the lighter. I

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of my invention wherein the match is positioned ready for use while the lighter slide remains out and illustrates a means adapted to raise the ignited match from the lighter.

Fig. 5 illustrates the same lighter with a notch positioned under the ignited and extended match to raise said match from the lighter.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the formed and creased container blank.

Fig. 7 is an interior side view of an embodiment wherein the body of the lighter is formed on a curvature.

Fig. 8 is a perspectiveviewofa portionof the match tape with the ignitable match heads spaced thereon, and illustrates how the match stem may be formed withv a longitudinal depression to facil- J itate the raising of said match stem.

This lighter comprises a casing 1 containing a s sliding member 2 movably mounted within said casing and carrying therein a match tape 3 coiled on an axis 28 within a chamber Ill provided in the slide 2. A match tape 3 is intermittently fed about the inner end of the slide passing over 3 the top, the match heads are then successively engaged by a ratchet 1 adapted to carry said match heads forward as the slide is pulled out to the position shown in Fig. 4. Upon reaching said position, the match head 8 is engaged 5 by a retaining ratchet 9 and is thus kept from returning when the slide is pushed back to the closed position. Upon the return of the slide. to said closed position, a ratchet 4 on the outer end of the slide 2 engages the repositioned. match 203- head 5 and, upon a successive operation of the slide, carries it forward and over a frictional surface 6 provided inthe container l thereby igniting it. When the slider 2 is returned to its closed position, the ignited match is left ex-. .25.

tendedfrom the end of the container. A protuberance H is formed in the top of the con-; tainer I over the rear ratchet l of the slide 2 when said slide is in a closed position, to provide room for thematch heads as they turn over said 21 ratchet.

A suitable tension means such as a rubber band 26 may be employed to automatically and rapidly return the slide to its closed position,

thus facilitating the operation of the lighter. 52.

It is to be understood that other suitable means could be employed to return the slide,'and I do not desire to be limited to the means shown.

Sections 20 are cut out of the end of the container'to aiford a grippingsurface on the slide 2.,

22 which is placed on each side of said slide to 50:

retain the match tape 3 within the chamber l0 when the slide is pulled out.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a spring ratchet 2'! adapted to raise the ignited match tape so that the lighter will not be in any way charred'or 55.

burned. When used in this connection, the tension means is preferably discarded. In Fig. 5, is shownan embodiment wherein the upper front surface of the container l, holding the abrasive surface 6 is depressed so that the end I! thereof presses the match tape 3 against a notch 16 provided in the slide member and serves to raise the match tape away from the slide member while burning. It is to be understood that other similar means may-be employed to keep the match tape from direct contact with the slide 2, and I do not desire to be limited to the particular embodiments shown.

In the process of manufacture the block M, which is rigidly held in place by a staple 15 or other suitable means, may be formed as an integral part of the slide 2. After the lighter has been completed it may be cut at points 24-44 to separate the two units. This feature facilitates.

high speed production by the reduction of operations.

In the event that a match is blown out before the entire match stem is consumed by the flame. the block 2! provided on the outer end of the slide locks the next match head to be ignited thus preventing the match tape from being pulled out of the container when the remaining stem is torn off;

The prior art has contributed much to the chemical composition of matches. It is an object of this invention to contribute to the structural formation of matches. The match heads herein presented are equidistantly disposed on a tape 3, said heads havingthe front end l8 curved to allow them topass over all obstructions. The rear portions of the head I9 is square cut to provide a top and bottom gripping edge for said ratchets. In order to maintain uniform shape in manufacture the match heads are preferably made of some impregnated fibrous material, which may be formed into shape and will not crack or chip in the process of cutting. To facilitate burning said match tape maybe impregnated with wax or other suitable inflammable material.

Fig. 7 shows the lighter structure formed on a curvature, in the event that a rotary operation should prove moredesirable said curvature may be-increased or decreased according to the application intended, as I do not desire to be limited by the type of movement illustrated.

The match tape shown in Fig. 8 illustrates how the match stem may be formed with a longitudinal depression. This formation facilitates the raising of the match stem by kinking when operating in conjunction with the match raising mechanisms 16 and I! previously mentioned.

I claim:

1. Alighter comprising a support, a member slidable within said support, a match tape bearing a plurality of spaced match heads and carried by said slidable member, ratchet means disposed upon said support and upon said slidable member in the path of said tape to cooperate with the spaced match heads to serially'eject them from the lighter, and ignition means in the path of the match heads to ignite each head as it emerges from the lighter.

2. A lighter comprising a container, a sliding :member therein, said member being arranged to support a tape-like match strip having spaced match heads thereon, said strip passing about the inner end of the slide'member, over the top of the slidemember and through the space be- 76-tWeen the outer container and the slide member,

said container and said sliding member each having ratchet portions in a position to engage said heads for co-operation with said match heads whereby said tape is moved outwardly exactly the distance between the said match heads by each complete movement of the slide, and means for raising said match heads angularly away from said sliding member and keeping them from burning the lighter when ignited.

3. A lighter comprising a case, a sliding member therein, said member being arranged to support a tape having. spaced match heads thereon, a-:tape, said tape passing about the inner end of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the outer container and the slide member, said case and said sliding member having means thereon for cooperation with said tape by engaging the match heads whereby said tape is moved outwardly the exact necessary distance between the said match heads :by :each complete movement of the slide, and 1 means for raising-v said match heads and keeping them from charring the lighter when ignited, said tape havinga longitudinal depression formed therein for cooperation with said match raising means-to facilitate the raising of the lighted match.

4. In a device of the character described comprising a container, a slide member and a stock of tape-like matches in said container, a retaining ratchet in said container,-a depressed frictional surface in front of said retaining ratchet in the path of said matches, said tape-like matches being passed about the inner end 'of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the outer container and the slide member, a protuberance to the rear of and in line with said retaining ratchet and'frictional surface to afford room for said matches when turning over said slide, sealing flaps on said container, a stop ratchet formed by off-set sections of said sealing flaps, to limit the outward movement of said slide and sections cut out of said container to afford gripping surfaces on said slide.

5. In a device of thecharacter described comprising a container, ratchet means in said container, an oif-set stop ratchet and a depressed frictional surface therein, a slide member, a stock oftape-like matches therein, a plurality of ratchets on said slide member arranged to operate in conjunction with said ratchets in said container in the progression, ignition and'presentation of said matches one at a time by movement of said slide, a portion thereon situated between said ratchets to operate in conjunction with said depressed frictional surface in the container to facilitate the raising of the lighted,

match stem when said slide is in the extended position; said tape-like matches passing about the inner end of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the outer container and the slide member, ablock stop located at the outer end of said slide in line with said ratchets to retain the next match head to be ignited when said slide is in the closed position to hold'the match tape within said lighter if an unburned match stem is to be torn oiT, a match chamber on said slide, an axis located centrally therein to hold the match tape in position, a channel leading from said match chamber to said ratchets, an oil-set stop ratchet thereon for co-operation with'said stop ratchet in said container to limit the outward movement of said? slide, .and anv integrally formed tail stop situated at the rear end of said slide to limit the inward movement thereof, said stop to be severed from said slide and secured to said container.

6. A lighter comprising a container, a sliding member therein, said member being arranged to support a tape-like match strip having spaced match heads thereon, said support and said container each having ratchet portions thereon for co-operation with said match heads whereby said tape is moved outwardly substantially the distance between said match heads by each complete movement of the slide, said tape-like match strip passing about the inner end of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the outer container and the slide member, and means for raising said match head and keeping it from charring the lighter when ignited, said sliding member being movable in an arcuate path.

7. In a lighter of the character described comprising a container, ratchet means and a frictional surface therein, a slide member, ratchets thereon, and a match tape; spaced match heads on said tape; said match tape passing about the inner end of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the outer container and the slide member, said heads being formed of a frictionally ignitious impregnated fibrous material comprising a mass of said fibrous material having the rear portion thereof square cut for co-operation with said ratchets, the front portion curved to pass obstructions, the bottom of said head to be secured to said tape and the top thereof being arranged to pass over said frictional surface, said head being substantially the width of said slide.

8. In a lighter of the character described: a support, a tension friction surface therein, a movable member in said support, and an imperforate stock of matches formed end on end, said matches being ignitable by movement of said movable member, a dip on said member said dip being arranged to make contact with said depressed frictional surface when said lighter is operated, said matches being arranged to pass between said dip and said frictional surface, said frictional surface being arranged to press the base of said matches into said dip when the lighter is operated to raise said matches ofi the lighter.

9. In an automatic lighter, the combination with a support, a member movable relative to said support, a supply of matches carried in said lighter, means for ejecting successive matches by movement of said member, said matches being ejected in substantially the same direction as the movement of said support, said supply of matches being conducted about the inner end of the slide member, over the top of the slide member and through the space between the support and the moving member, means for igniting each match during ejection and means for turning each ejected match from its normal direction of ejection to an angle thereto.

10. A lighter comprising a support, a member slidable within said support, a match tape bearing a plurality of spaced match heads and carried by said slidable member, ratchet means disposed upon said support and upon said slidable member in the path of said tapeto co-operate with the spaced match. heads to serially eject them from the lighter, ignition means in the path of the match heads to ignite each head as it emerges from the'lighter, and means mounted on said slidable member and co-operating with a portion of said support to displace the ejected match outwardly and angularly to its normal path.

11. A lighter comprising a casing, a member telescopically mounted in said casing and having a portion accessible for moving said member to extended position from said casing, a supply of matches in tape form carried by said member and extending between a wall of said casing and said member, and co -operating means on said member and said casing to cause consecutive matches to be extended from said lighter with the head of each match remote from said lighter, and means to ignite each match head in its movement from said lighter.

12. A match container comprising an exterior casing having ratchet means therein, a frictional match igniting surface adjacent said ratchet, an interior sliding member having a complemental ratchet means thereon, a match tape within said container and co-operatively engaged by both said ratchet means to successively project, ignite and deliver from said casing a burning match tape upon movement of said sliding member.

HARRY GEORGE KLASSEN. 

